God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.

- Source: Cardinal John Henry Newman

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In the midst of chaos on the outside, God provides us an inner peace and calm. In John 20, Jesus reiterates “Peace be with you.” For a moment consider the contrast of chaos on the outside vs. a stillness of peace within you heart. Perhaps visualize the stormiest sea (life on the outside) you have ever seen in a Hollywood movie vs. the peace of a sunrise over a still morning pond (inner peace within your heart).

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In the classic Charles Swindoll book, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, we are provided some insight into our mind. As is evident daily, “we act out precisely what we take in.” Proverbs 23:7 evens gives us insights, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” In this regard, Swindoll states that to have a life of excellence “is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence.” He goes on to state that it may take time and may involve some pain but what will result is a metamorphosis. To this end, he provides the story of Sid the caterpillar.

Sid was a regular dirty caterpillar squirming in the dirt. One day he had a great idea to crawl up the stem of a bush, secreted fluid, and build a house around him. Everything was very still for quite a while. One could conclude that nothing was going on when in essence a metamorphosis was taking place. Then, “one day Sid began to raise the window shades of his house.” One could begin to see colors, and then one day the house shook violently. Out from the cocoon came a beautiful wing then came another. Still not fully out, one might be tempted to try and help. But, no, this would maim him forever. Instead, you let him work his way out without any assistance. Eventually, Sid crawled out completely and opened his beautiful wings. He was no longer squirming in the dirt and no, he didn’t go back to the dirt again. Instead, he took off with flight power. No more dirt and dust. Off he went from flower to flower “enjoying the sweet nectar in God’s wonderful creation.”

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The great Jesuit writer Jean-Pierre de Caussade wrote of how everything in life is to be welcomed as an expression of God’s will. In doing so, he says that we must “accept what we very often cannot avoid, and endure with love and resignation things which could cause us weariness and disgust. This is what being holy means.” He goes on to say that “God speaks to every individual through what happens to them moment to moment… The events of each moment are stamped with the will of God… We find all that is necessary in the present moment.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."

- Matthew 26:26-28

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